Puzzle

ABSTRACT

A puzzle is provided which consists of four playing squares each of which has 16 small squares thereon, i.e. is divided into four columns and four rows, each playing square having two markers thereon. Preferably the puzzle consists of thin sheets which are printed on both sides. The object of the puzzle is to place the four playing squares into a large square wherein there is not more than one marker in any row, any diagonal or any column.

United States Patent 1,121,697 12/1914 Well 273/156 1,234,679 7/1917 Littlefield. 273/156 1,869,864 8/1932 Phillips 273/157 R 2,011,163 8/1935 Rothschild 273/153 R UX Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle AttorneyEckhoff and Hoppe [72] Inventor James R. O'Neil 1600 36th Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94122 [21 1 Appl. No. 20,573 [22] Filed Mar. 18, 1970 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [54] PUZZLE 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 273/157 R [51] A63f 9/10 [50] Field ofSeareh 273/153 R, 156,157 R, 130 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,547 5/1907 Werner 273/153 R UX PATENTEnJuualsn $592,474

summrz o b c d ii A G an 1 INVENTOR.

JAMES R. O'NE\L ATTORNEYS PUZZLE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a very simple puzzle is provided which can be in the form of a thin sheet, face of a cube, or the like. Preferably the puzzle is in the form of four thin sheets with printing on both sides of the sheets so that any one puzzle effectively includes eight playing surfaces.

The puzzle itself consists of four playing squares, each of which is divided into four columns and four rows so that each of the playing squares has 16 small squares on the surface thereof. Each of the playing squares has markers on two small squares thereof wherein the markers are not in the same row, not in the same column, nor do they form a diagonal. The object of the puzzle is to take the four playing squares and arrange them into a large square so that there are no two markers in the same row, same diagonal or in the same column.

In the preferred embodiment of the game, each of the playing squares is marked on both sides, so that a given square can be played in eight different ways on any of the four single spaces of the imaginary large square. Thus, the first square could be played in eight times four positions, the second at eight times three, the third in eight times two and in the last, in eight positions. This makes a total of 98,304 different possibilities for playing the four pieces. Thus, the puzzle is much more difficult than it appears at first glance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings forming part of this application,

FIG. 1 illustrates the various possibilities for playing squares for forming the present puzzle.

FIGS. 2 through 7 illustrate six possible solutions to the puzzle wherein various of the playing squares are selected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, the 12 possibilities for playing squares are illustrated. It will be noted that squares A through F are mirror images of the squares G through L. Each of the playing squares divided into 16 small squares, there being four rows, each of which is divided into four columns. For convenience in explaining the puzzle, the columns are designated a, b, c and d while the rows are designated, i, ii, iii, and iv. There are two markers-in the small squares of each of the larger playing squares. It will be noted that in no instance are there two markers in the same row nor in the same column, nor are any of the indicators on a direct diagonal with another indicator. The marking may consist of a square of a contrasting color, or some symbol, such as the X" used in the drawing. The puzzle lends itself to being an inexpensive advertising device in which case the marking might consist of the name or symbol for a product. In FIG. 1 no distinction is made between front and back surfaces. For instance, a playing square might have the indicia ofA on the front and I on the back. Normally the front and back surfaces would be different in order to make the puzzle as difficult as possible.

In the square designated A of FIG. 1, there is an indicator in the position al and a second indicator in the position b-iii. If one places an indicator at position ai, we could not have another indicator in the i row nor in the acolumn. Likewise, we could not have another indicator in a diagonal position such as at b-ii, aiii or d-iv. Similarly, when we have an indicator in position b-iii, we could not have an indicator in the aii, c-ii, civ or aiv positions since this would violate the rule against diagonals. Naturally one could not have another indicator in any position in the b column or the iii row.

Special mention should be made of the squares designated E and K since these are symmetrical configurations and will produce the same pattern if they are rotated Although these squares can be used, it is preferred that they be avoided since two of their positions are the same and they thus tend to make the game too easy In FIG 2 through a number of possible solutions to the puzzle are shownv Thus, in FIG. 2 a solution is shown wherein the playing squares B, H, D, and J have been combined. In FIG. 4 a solution is shown where playing squares D, F, G, and C have been combined. The other solutions are not described in detail although it will be seen that they are made of various permutations of the playing squares illustrated in FIG. I.

In its simplest form, the puzzle might consist of four playing squares with indicia on only one side of each square. However, the game is rather simple in this form and it is preferred that each playing square have indicia on both sides of a flat sheet wherein indicia are selected from two different squares as illustrated in FIG. 1. Preferably the eight playing surfaces thus provided have only a single solution, i.e. four of the surfaces could not be employed in a solution. Preferably there are no duplicates among the eight playing surfaces although this need not be true. This produces a surprisingly difficult puzzle with almost 100,000 possible playing positions. A three-dimensional game can also be provided by placing the playing squares on the surfaces of four cubes. Obviously there must be some duplication of patterns in this game since there are 24 cube surfaces to be covered, yet only 12 possible patterns.

Although reference has been made to dividing the playing squares into small squares, it will be obvious that a physical division need not be made and that the small squares may be imaginary with the indicia being placed upon an unmarked surface. Also, instead of having spaces, one could have lines with the indicia being marked on the lines rather than on the spaces between the lines.

Iclaim:

l. A puzzle consisting of four playing squares, each of the four playing squares being divided into 16 small spaces consisting of four columns and four rows of spaces with two indicia marks on each of said playing squares, said indicia marks occupying two of said small spaces, no two of said indicia marks being in the same row or in the same column or on a diagonal with each other, whereby said playing squares can be combined to form a large square wherein no column nor any row nor any diagonal has more than one indicia mark therein.

2. The puzzle of claim I wherein each of said playing squares is a sheet with two indicia marks on each side thereof.

3. The puzzle of claim 2 wherein the eight playing surfaces have only one possible solution. 

1. A puzzle consisting of four playing squares, each of the four playing squares being divided into 16 small spaces consisting of four columns and four rows of spaces with two indicia marks on each of said playing squares, said indicia marks occupying two of said small spaces, no two of said indicia marks being in the same row or in the same column or on a diagonal with each other, whereby said playing squares can be combined to form a large square wherein no column nor any row nor any diagonal has more than one indicia mark therein.
 2. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein each of said playing squares is a sheet with two indicia marks on each side thereof.
 3. The puzzle of claim 2 wherein the eight playing surfaces have only one possible solution. 